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Audit Confirms Paulding County Probation Department Theft

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Columbus – The former director of probation services for the Paulding County Court Probation Department illegally collected $10,000 in cash from probationers, created fake receipts and never deposited the money with the county, according to an audit released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost. Emily Munger was indicted on charges of theft in office and tampering with records in September.

“Cash transactions and fake receipts – this whole thing is shadier than the Amazon forest,” Auditor Yost said. “Thanks to the watchful eye of Judge Rister and our partnership with local law enforcement, this scheme was brought to light.”

The Paulding County Court Probation Department’s policy states that employees are prohibited from accepting any payments from probationers. Instead, probationers are instructed to make payments for fines, costs, restitution or probation fees directly with the Paulding County Court.

However, auditors determined that Director of Probation Services Emily Munger collected cash payments for fees from probationers and did not deposit the funds with the clerk of courts. Consequently, these payments were not credited to the probationers’ accounts.

During the audit period January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014, Munger collected a total of $10,040 in cash that she did not pay to the clerk of courts. A finding for recovery in the amount of $10,040 was issued against Munger.

In July 2015, Munger was terminated from employment for violations of the Paulding County Court Probation Department’s personnel policies and procedures.

An Auditor of State partnership with Paulding County law enforcement led to Munger’s indictment in September 2015. She was indicted on one third-degree felony charge of theft in office and one third-degree felony charge of tampering with records.

The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,800 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.